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Thursday, June 25, 2009

S'about Time North Carolina. Now, Send Some Common Sense Down Here

An hour-and-a-half was all it took. Scarcely longer than an episode of Real Housewives of New York. But they did it.

The North Carolina House passed legislation to include specific protections for students who are bullied because of their sexuality in an anti-bullying law. These new anti-bullying laws will state that a child should not be discriminated against or harassed on the grounds of their real or perceived sexual orientation, their race, religious views and disabilities.

Those against the bill, and, in effect then, for bullying, claimed that the largely Democratic group proposing the motion were wrong to focus on the protection of a minority instead of legislating to protect all children in the state.

So, they don't believe we protect the minority?

Repugnant Dale Folwell: "The people of North Carolina are being bullied on this floor tonight."

Democrat Grier Martin: "To oppose this bill because you object to one of those categories is to fight the culture wars on the back of a child."

According to the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network, only seven other US states with bullying laws in place include specific protection for gay students: California, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont and Washington state.